TDR Exclusive: Republican And Democrat Senators’ Views On SAFE Banking And Rescheduling
The TDR Three Key Takeaways on the SAFE Banking Act:
TDR’s Shadd Dales has live interviews in Washington DC with senators on their views of the SAFE Banking Act
Senators believe economic and safety benefits underscore the urgent need for the SAFE Banking Act.
Senators believe strategic legislative tactics may determine the SAFE Banking Act’s passage in an election year.
Last week, the TDR team was in Washington, DC, to gather firsthand insights for this exclusive to learn directly about both Republican and Democrat senators’ views on SAFE Banking. We thank Cannabis Lobbyist Don Murphy for his assistance in arranging interviews. TDR’s Shadd Dales interviewed current and former senators from both parties, such as JD Vance, Steve Daines, Rand Paul, Robert Menendez, and Cory Gardner. Below are direct quotes and highlights from the podcast, available for viewing at this link.
Senator JD Vance, Ohio, Republican
Senator JD Vance voted against the Safe Banking Act due to concerns that it could inadvertently aid illicit activities, as he noted, “the bill was crafted in such a way that actually would have opened up access to banking resources for fentanyl traffickers and others.”
Regarding supporting a revised version of the legislation, Vance indicated openness to changing his stance if improvements were made, saying, “if the legislation is better, I’d be more likely to support it.”
As for his view on the rescheduling of marijuana, Vance seemed less focused on this issue, mentioning that it was not his “particular focus” and suggested that the influence on legislative momentum might differ among his colleagues. He also questioned the priority of such changes in the House, implying it might face challenges there.
It appears that his view on the SAFE Banking Act may be shifting in a positive direction.
Senator Steve Daines, Montana, Republican
Senator Steve Daines articulated a few key messages regarding the progress and potential passage of the Safe Banking Act for the cannabis industry. First, he expressed cautious optimism about the legislation’s prospects, noting, “I think we’re at the best spot we’ve ever been in getting safe banking across the finish line.” He acknowledged the unpredictability of Washington but seemed hopeful about the current alignment between the House and Senate bills. Regarding the strategy to advance the bill, he shared the approach of attaching the Safe Banking Act to other legislative vehicles as a way to navigate the …